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Entry Level Linux Kernel Engineer Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Neura Market

Embedded Linux Engineer

Costa Mesa, CA · On-site

$166 - $220/hr

Experience with Linux kernel development * Experience with uboot, EDK2, platform firmware, etc ... Familiarity with functional programming paradigms * Experience with one or more of the following ...

Darkhive

Sr Embedded Linux Engineer

Develop and maintain Linux kernel drivers and low-level system software for embedded compute ... Bachelor's degree in Computer Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, or related ...

Brilliant

Linux Engineer

San Mateo, CA · On-site

Work on a variety of projects with custom built Linux on custom built hardware. Preferred candidate ... Kernel driver development experience preferred. Qualifications Additional Information All your ...

Brilliant

Linux Engineer

San Mateo, CA

Work on a variety of projects with custom built Linux on custom built hardware. Preferred candidate ... Kernel driver development experience preferred. Additional Information All your information will be ...

AMD

Senior Linux Software Engineer

Austin, TX · On-site

... Linux kernel and virtualization debugging skills • Linux feature backporting and upstreaming ... • Solid programming skills in Python, C, or C++ Company : Advanced Micro Devices is a ...

Zealogics Inc

HPC engineer

San Jose, CA · On-site

Zealogics Inc is seeking an HPC Engineer. The primary responsibilities include maintaining and ... Linux kernel, windows server. • HPC Operating System Installation/provision - Windows Server ...

Nightwing

Linux Developer

Sterling, VA · On-site

They are seeking an experienced Linux Developer to design, develop, test, and debug high ... with Linux kernel development • Familiarity with embedded systems or performance-critical ...

Nightwing

Linux Developer

Sterling, VA · On-site

We are seeking an experienced Linux Developer to join our engineering team, where the ideal ... with Linux kernel development • Familiarity with embedded systems or performance-critical ...

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How much do entry level linux kernel engineer jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 22, 2026, the average yearly pay for entry level linux kernel engineer in the United States is $69,362.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $51,500.00 and $78,500.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does an entry level Linux kernel engineer do?

An Entry Level Linux Kernel Engineer assists in developing, maintaining, and debugging the Linux kernel, which is the core part of the Linux operating system. They typically work on tasks such as fixing bugs, implementing new features, and ensuring hardware compatibility. This role often involves writing code in C, understanding kernel modules, and collaborating with more experienced engineers to learn industry best practices. Entry level engineers may also contribute to open-source projects and review documentation to expand their knowledge of operating system internals.

What are some common challenges faced by entry level Linux kernel engineers during their first year on the job?

Entry level Linux Kernel Engineers often encounter challenges such as understanding the complexity of kernel codebases, adhering to strict coding standards, and navigating the open-source community’s workflow for submitting patches. Collaborating with experienced engineers and participating in code reviews can be overwhelming at first, but these experiences are crucial for skill development. Additionally, balancing bug fixes with learning new subsystems and tools is typical, so time management and a willingness to ask questions are important for success.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as an entry level Linux kernel engineer, and why are they important?

To thrive as an Entry Level Linux Kernel Engineer, you need a solid understanding of C programming, operating systems concepts, and computer architecture, often backed by a degree in computer science or a related field. Familiarity with Linux kernel development tools, Git version control, and debugging utilities like GDB is typically required. Strong problem-solving skills, attention to detail, and effective communication help you quickly diagnose issues and collaborate with experienced engineers. These skills are essential for contributing to complex kernel projects, ensuring code quality, and efficiently resolving system-level challenges.

Are entry level Linux kernel engineers in demand?

Entry level Linux kernel engineers are in demand due to the widespread use of Linux in servers, cloud infrastructure, and embedded systems. Skills in C programming, kernel development, and familiarity with tools like Git and Linux kernel modules increase employability in this field.
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Entry Level Linux Kernel Engineer jobs near you
Infographic showing various Entry Level Linux Kernel Engineer job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 100% Full Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $69,362 per year, or $33.3 per hour.

#Senior Software Engineer - Linux

Qualcomm

San Diego, CA • On-site

Full-time

Re-posted 27 days ago

Qualcomm rating

8.8

Company rating: 8.8 out of 10

Based on 11 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

48th of 245 rated software companies

Job description

Company:
Qualcomm Innovation Center, Inc.
Job Area:
Engineering Group, Engineering Group > Software Engineering
General Summary:
** This position is not eligible for Qualcomm immigration sponsorship. **
Drive Linux innovation for Qualcomm's next-generation server-class CPUs Join our Linux Platform team to build and optimize Linux distribution support and infrastructure that empowers internal developers and test teams, while preparing upstream readiness for major data center and enterprise environments. This role focuses on platform support, packaging, integration, and CI/CD automation across major Linux distributions, bridging internal enablement with open-source community standards.
Minimum Qualifications:
• Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Information Systems, Computer Science, or related field and 2+ years of Software Engineering or related work experience.
OR
Master's degree in Engineering, Information Systems, Computer Science, or related field and 1+ year of Software Engineering or related work experience.
OR
PhD in Engineering, Information Systems, Computer Science, or related field.
• 2+ years of academic or work experience with Programming Language such as C, C++, Java, Python, etc.
Preferred Qualifications:
  • Master's Degree in Engineering, Computer Science, Information Systems, or related field.
  • Strong background in computer science fundamentals and software engineering principles.
  • Proficiency in Bash and Python for automation and tooling, working knowledge of C/C++
  • Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
  • Mature interpersonal skills with ability to collaborate across diverse teams.
  • Proven ability to debug complex Linux systems across kernel and userspace.
  • Ability to quickly learn new tools and workflows in a fast-evolving environment.
  • Strong problem-solving skills and ability to work in non-linear, dynamic environments.
  • Proficiency with Git and experience in GitHub-based workflows (or similar), including integration with modern CI/CD systems for open-source or large-scale projects.
  • Deep experience with enterprise Linux distributions (e.g., RHEL/Fedora, Ubuntu/Debian) and build frameworks, including packaging, update mechanisms, and upstream integration, and data center deployment practices.
  • Familiarity with Linux packaging systems (Debian, RPM) and CI/CD automation tools (e.g., GitHub Actions, Jenkins).
  • Working knowledge of Linux kernel configuration and platform enablement (e.g., ACPI, UEFI, kconfig).
  • Experience contributing to upstream Linux kernel or userspace projects is a strong plus.
  • Familiarity with virtualization, containerization, and orchestration tools (QEMU, KVM, Docker, Kubernetes) is desirable.

Key Responsibilities:
  • Collaborate with team members to bring up Linux kernel and userspace on new server-class hardware, ensuring core functionality and stability.
  • Implement and maintain build, packaging, and test workflows within the team's CI/CD infrastructure.
  • Assist in developing internal Linux distribution integration
  • Debug and triage issues related to build failures, packaging, and platform bring-up.
  • Work with hardware and firmware engineers to resolve platform-specific issues (e.g., bootloader, ACPI, secure boot).
  • Support upstream readiness efforts by testing and validating changes needed for major Linux distributions (e.g., RHEL, Ubuntu).
  • Contribute patches and collaborate with upstream communities under guidance from senior team members.
  • Document processes and share knowledge to enable other internal developers.

Level of Responsibility:
  • Works under supervision with moderate autonomy.
  • Decision-making may affect work beyond immediate work group.
  • Requires strong communication skills and ability to influence and negotiate across teams.
  • Tasks require planning, prioritization, and creative problem-solving.

Qualcomm is an equal opportunity employer. If you are an individual with a disability and need an accommodation during the application/hiring process, rest assured that Qualcomm is committed to providing an accessible process. You may e-mail disability-accomodations@qualcomm.com or call Qualcomm's toll-free number found here. Upon request, Qualcomm will provide reasonable accommodations to support individuals with disabilities to be able participate in the hiring process. Qualcomm is also committed to making our workplace accessible for individuals with disabilities. (Keep in mind that this email address is used to provide reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities. We will not respond here to requests for updates on applications or resume inquiries).
To all Staffing and Recruiting Agencies: Our Careers Site is only for individuals seeking a job at Qualcomm. Staffing and recruiting agencies and individuals being represented by an agency are not authorized to use this site or to submit profiles, applications or resumes, and any such submissions will be considered unsolicited. Qualcomm does not accept unsolicited resumes or applications from agencies. Please do not forward resumes to our jobs alias, Qualcomm employees or any other company location. Qualcomm is not responsible for any fees related to unsolicited resumes/applications.
EEO Employer: Qualcomm is an equal opportunity employer; all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, Veteran status, or any other protected classification.
Qualcomm expects its employees to abide by all applicable policies and procedures, including but not limited to security and other requirements regarding protection of Company confidential information and other confidential and/or proprietary information, to the extent those requirements are permissible under applicable law.
Pay range and Other Compensation & Benefits:
$111,300.00 - $166,900.00
The above pay scale reflects the broad, minimum to maximum, pay scale for this job code for the location for which it has been posted. Even more importantly, please note that salary is only one component of total compensation at Qualcomm. We also offer a competitive annual discretionary bonus program and opportunity for annual RSU grants (employees on sales-incentive plans are not eligible for our annual bonus). In addition, our highly competitive benefits package is designed to support your success at work, at home, and at play. Your recruiter will be happy to discuss all that Qualcomm has to offer - and you can review more details about our US benefits at this link.
If you would like more information about this role, please contact Qualcomm Careers.

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About Qualcomm

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Qualcomm is enabling a world where everyone and everything can be intelligently connected. You interact with products and technologies made possible by Qualcomm every day, including 5G-enabled smartphones that double as pro-level cameras and gaming devices, smarter vehicles and cities, and the technology behind the smart, connected factories that manufactured your latest purchase. Our powerful connectivity solutions keep you connected—even in remote areas. Qualcomm 5G and AI innovations are the power behind the connected intelligent edge. You’ll find our technologies behind and inside the innovations that deliver significant value across multiple industries and to billions of people every day.

Industry

Technology, communication and media

Company size

10,000+ Employees

Headquarters location

San Diego, CA, US

Year founded

1985

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